Ex-Cal star Hawkins tries to impact Titans

Published 4:00 am, Wednesday, August 13, 2008

Finding help for quarterback Vince Young in the passing game was a big focus this offseason for Tennessee, a team that had only nine touchdown passes in 2007.

If the season started now, the starting receivers likely would be veteran Justin McCareins, who came back as a free agent but missed the first 10 days of practice in August, and Justin Gage, who signed a multiyear deal in the offseason after catching a career-high 55 passes for 750 yards. Brandon Jones lines up first at the slot, while Roydell Williams (14 starts in 2007) is coming off a broken right ankle.

But also among the receiver candidates is newcomer Lavelle Hawkins, a fourth-round pick out of Cal. Hawkins is expected to get his first significant preseason action against the Raiders on Friday, according to the Tennessean.com, after having little impact in the preseason opener against the Rams, in spite of injuries to several receivers. Hawkins has also received work as a kick returner in practice.

Stover's kick: Ravens coach John Harbaugh told the players that if field-goal kicker Matt Stover was successful on a 48-yard field-goal try, the afternoon practice session would be canceled. The 40-year-old, who boasts one of the highest career field-goal success rates at 83.8 percent, drilled the ball between the uprights, setting off the team's celebration.

Signed, sealed ...: Tony Romo was signing autographs before the Cowboys' final practice in Thousand Oaks (Ventura County) when he accidentally signed his own helmet. An equipment manager had passed it over for practice.

New rules: Fans heading to the Meadowlands Sports Complex had their allowable tailgating hours reduced from seven hours before events to five, the New Jersey Sports and Exposition Authority announced. Also, season ticketholders who are ejected from the stadium or arena will have their tickets revoked or will receive two warnings if the tickets are not being used by the owner.

Bad feeling: The Dolphins cut 32-year-old kicker Jay Feely one season after he set the team's single-season record for field-goal percentage by hitting 21 of 23. Undrafted rookie Dan Carpenter made 41- and 49-yard kicks in Saturday's 17-6 loss to the Buccaneers.

Dents and dings: Cardinals rookie cornerback Dominique Rodgers-Cromartie, the 16th overall pick in the draft, was taken off the practice field on a cart with an undisclosed injury after rolling his right ankle during drills. ... Strong safety Madieu Williams, signed by the Vikings to a six-year, $33 million contract to upgrade their secondary because he can play some man-to-man pass coverage and allow Darren Sharper more freedom, has a nerve problem in his neck that could keep him out for up to six weeks. ... Super Bowl star Plaxico Burress, whose bum right ankle prevented him from practicing at all last season, is trying to fix a problem in the same ankle with orthotics. ... Cornerback Carlos Rogers could play Saturday in New York, several months ahead of schedule after major knee surgery in November.

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